Prophets of the Bible (Major and Minor)
Quick Summary: The Bible includes a wide array of prophets—some who wrote books, others who only appear briefly in narrative. This article lists the major and minor prophets, outlines their roles, and explains why some prophets are considered "major" and others "minor."
What Is a Prophet in the Bible?
In the Bible, a prophet is someone called by God to speak on God’s behalf. Sometimes this meant foretelling the future, but more often it involved calling people to faithfulness, justice, and covenant living in the present.
Prophets weren’t fortune-tellers. They were covenant messengers. They often delivered hard truths, challenged kings, and stood alone in the face of corruption. Some performed miracles, like Elijah and Elisha. Others penned the poetic and powerful books we still read today.
The Difference Between Major and Minor Prophets
The terms "major" and "minor" don’t refer to importance. They refer to length.
Major Prophets: Longer prophetic books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
Minor Prophets: Shorter books like Amos, Micah, and Nahum.
All prophets played vital roles, whether their writings spanned 66 chapters or just a few.
The Major Prophets (5 Books)
Isaiah – Spoke of judgment and hope; prophesied the coming of the Messiah
Jeremiah – Known as the "weeping prophet," warned of Jerusalem’s fall
Lamentations – Attributed to Jeremiah; a poetic response to the fall of Jerusalem
Ezekiel – Prophesied in Babylon; famous for visions of dry bones and the new temple
Daniel – Narratives and apocalyptic visions; served in the courts of foreign kings
The Twelve Minor Prophets
Sometimes called the Book of the Twelve, these shorter prophetic books are grouped together:
Hosea – Uses marriage as a metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness
Joel – Speaks of the Day of the Lord and a future outpouring of God’s Spirit
Amos – Shepherd prophet; strong emphasis on justice and righteousness
Obadiah – Shortest book; a prophecy against Edom
Jonah – Flees from God; story of Nineveh’s repentance
Micah – Calls for justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:8)
Nahum – Announces the fall of Nineveh
Habakkuk – Questions God about justice; "the righteous shall live by faith"
Zephaniah – Warns of the Day of the Lord
Haggai – Urges the rebuilding of the temple after the exile
Zechariah – Apocalyptic visions; foresees the coming king
Malachi – Final Old Testament prophet; calls for renewed faithfulness
Narrative Prophets (Not Book Authors)
Many key prophets didn’t write books but played major roles in the biblical story:
Elijah – Challenged Baal worship; taken up in a whirlwind (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2)
Elisha – Successor to Elijah; performed many miracles
Samuel – Anointed both Saul and David; a prophet and judge
Nathan – Rebuked David after the Bathsheba incident (2 Samuel 12)
Gad – Adviser to David
Ahijah – Prophesied the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 11)
Shemaiah – Warned Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:22)
Hanani – Confronted King Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7)
Huldah – Female prophet who authenticated the book of the law (2 Kings 22)
Female Prophets in the Bible
While most prophets in the Bible are men, several women are explicitly called prophets:
Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
Deborah (Judges 4:4)
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14)
Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14)
Anna (Luke 2:36)
Philip’s daughters (Acts 21:9)
These women offered insight, led in worship, and confirmed divine messages.
Meaning for Today
The prophets weren’t just voices of the past. Their words still challenge today’s systems of power, complacency, and false religion. Whether it’s Isaiah’s vision of peace, Amos’s call for justice, or Jonah’s reluctant mercy, the prophets remind us that faith is not just personal—it is public, ethical, and active.
And in Christ, the prophetic tradition finds fulfillment. Jesus not only quoted the prophets; he walked in their footsteps, embodying both truth and grace.
